Image: Rescue boats being sent from Mysore to Coorg
So far, seven people have lost their lives in Coorg and over eight persons are missing. 58 places in Coorg have been marooned and landslides have occurred in 15 places. Latest reports from Coorg say that 34 relief centres have been established and 2,866 people from 817 families have been accommodated in the centres.
Over 247 affected people have been shifted from flooded houses, estates and river banks. Also, 11 cattle heads have been rescued. In Bhagamandala and Kushalnagar, the villages located on the banks of River Cauvery have been completely submerged.
Exacerbated by landslides: In the mountainous district, thousands of people have been marooned because of torrential rains. Exacerbated by landslides in hilly terrain, flooding has led to the destruction of homes, bridges, road networks, and industries.
Coorg Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy said that the flood washed away around 5,000 homes in Kondangeri, Murnad, Guhya, Koodugadde, Bettadakaadu, Karadigodu, Baradi, Ayyangeri and other smaller villages along the banks of the Cauvery.
“Over 10,000 houses were completely submerged. Many people had already left their homes but around 5,000 people were still there. They were rescued by the NDRF, SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services and the locals on Friday,” she added.
Coorg is facing the wrath of rain fury this year also as heavy showers continued to lash the district and there is no respite. Rivers Cauvery, Lakshmanatheertha, Keerepole and many rivulets have breached the danger level and have overflowed, submerging the surrounding areas.
With road connectivity snapping, stranding vehicular traffic, boats are the only means of transport to shift people to relief centres. As of now, 25 relief centres have been set up at various parts of Coorg, especially in the South region and more than 2,500 people have been accommodated there. Food, shelter and sanitation facilities are being provided to them.
With rivers swollen, submerging more than 70 villages, the authorities are finding it difficult to reach affected areas for rescue operations. Two additional platoons of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in the district and villagers have climbed hilly areas to protect themselves from flood.
More than 50 rafters are being used for rescue efforts and boats are being despatched from Mysuru Fire Brigade Office to handle the distress situation. Even the Kodagu District Administration has stocks of boats and has sent them to Siddapura, Karadigodu and other areas to rescue people. Also, boats are being transported on top of jeeps to South Kodagu where River Lakshmanatheertha is flooding roads and villages.
While one boat has been shipped to Coorg from Mysore Fire Brigade Office on Friday, another boat was sent yesterday.
Five officers and 18 staff, who are also expert swimmers, have been despatched. They are carrying a set of life jackets and powerful torches that can beam lights up to 100 metres.
